The court heard the main habeas corpus petition and initiated a contempt of court proceeding against the deputy attorney-general for not submitting a reply within stipulated time on making the President and the adviser to the Prime Minister on interior parties to the case.

The court directed both sides to seek an amicable solution by next hearing.

The state requested the court to withdraw the telephone and internet facilities enjoyed by Dr Khan, pleading that his free interaction was not in the best national interest and it will not be deemed unreasonable under the peculiar circumstances of the case.

Dr Khans lawyer requested the bench to take action against the respondents for not complying with the courts June 25 orders, Dawn reported.

Jafferi said there was nothing in the four-page reply submitted by the federation which substantiated its stance.

He said if the bench concurred to hear the case in camera, he and his client were willing to appear in the larger national interest under the Article 194 of the Constitution.

The Deputy Attorney-General, he said, had contended before the court that Dr Khan had not been restricted from meeting his friends and relatives, but his statement had proved to be wrong.

He said the government should explain what it meant by international repercussions if Dr Khans confinement was ended.

He rebuffed the claim that Dr Khan had made any statement implicating state organs in nuclear proliferation and said the Japanese news agency had misquoted him.

Dr Khan is made responsible for leaking official secrets. Such comments are mere passing opinions, he added. (ANI)